HIL Solutions & Automation Engineer – AI

Ford; Dearborn, Northern (MI, KY); Hybrid; USD 85,000 - 115,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid work model

Tuition assistance

Paid time off

Job summary

Ford recently posted a role for an HIL Solutions & Automation Engineer focused on advanced test automation and AI-assisted validation workflows. The candidate will bridge embedded hardware, simulation toolchains, and modern software engineering to accelerate validation velocity for ADAS, Chassis, and ECUs.

The position emphasizes Python-based tool development, Streamlit interfaces, and integration with REST APIs, Jama, Jira, and TestRail for traceability.

Qualifications

• Hands-on software automation for HIL validation and AI-assisted workflows.
• Bachelor’s degree or higher in engineering or CS related to automotive tech.
• Experience with HIL toolchains and vehicle simulation platforms is required.

Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain AI-assisted tools to generate automation scripts.
• HIL scenario development using dSPACE, CarMaker and related toolchains.
• Automate bench tests and CAN signaling for ECUs (ADAS, PSCM, ABS).
• Create gap analysis tooling linking requirements to tests.

Skills

Python

Streamlit

REST APIs

Test automation

AI-assisted workflows

Education

Bachelor's degree in Robotics Engineering, Mechatronics, Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, or related field

Master's degree in related field (nice to have)

Tools

dSPACE

ModelDesk

ControlDesk

CarMaker

Python libraries (Streamlit)

Job description

Ford’s Electric Vehicles, Digital and Design (EVDD) team is charged with delivering the company’s vision of a fully electric transportation future. EVDD is customer-obsessed, entrepreneurial, and data-driven and is dedicated to delivering industry-leading customer experience for electric vehicle buyers and owners. You’ll join an agile team of doers pioneering our EV future by working collaboratively, staying focused on only what matters, and delivering excellence day in and day out. Join us to make positive change by helping build a better world where every person is free to move and pursue their dreams.

We are seeking a proactive and skilled HIL Solutions & Automation Engineer to drive advanced test automation and AI-assisted validation workflows across our HIL test environments. In this role, you will bridge the gap between embedded hardware, simulation toolchains, and modern software engineering by developing intelligent tools for scenario generation, test coverage gap analysis, and closed-loop bench automation. You will work across dSPACE, CarMaker, and Python environments, integrating AI and REST APIs to accelerate validation velocity for ADAS, Chassis, and vehicle platform ECUs.

About the Team

Ford’s Verification & Validation (V&V) and Virtual Engineering teams are dedicated to accelerating the delivery of safe, reliable, and intelligent vehicle systems. We are building next-generation test automation and applied AI solutions to streamline test generation, simulation workflows, and hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) validation across core vehicle domains. You’ll join an agile team of engineers and innovators pioneering the future of smart mobility by working collaboratively, building reusable automation platforms, and transforming complex engineering requirements into executable test solutions.

In this position...

We are seeking a proactive and skilled HIL Solutions & Automation Engineer to drive advanced test automation and AI-assisted validation workflows across our HIL test environments. In this role, you will bridge the gap between embedded hardware, simulation toolchains, and modern software engineering by developing intelligent tools for scenario generation, test coverage gap analysis, and closed-loop bench automation. You will work across dSPACE, CarMaker, and Python environments, integrating AI and REST APIs to accelerate validation velocity for ADAS, Chassis, and vehicle platform ECUs.

What you'll do...

• Develop and Maintain AI-Assisted Engineering Tools: Design and deploy Python- and Streamlit-based tools that convert natural-language engineering requirements into executable automation scripts for scenario generation, test-case authoring, and BDD/Gherkin acceptance criteria.

• HIL Automation & Scenario Development: Build and configure simulation scenarios using dSPACE ModelDesk, MotionDesk/Aurelion, and CarMaker toolchains, automating road assignment, ego/fellow vehicle maneuvers, and model download workflows.

• Bench Integration & Test Execution: Automate closed-loop HIL test routines using dSPACE ControlDesk APIs, Python, and CAN network signaling to validate system-level ECUs (e.g., ADAS, PSCM, ABS).

• Test Coverage & Gap Analysis: Build automated gap analysis tools interfacing with requirements and test management platforms (Jama, TestRail, SharePoint) to identify unverified functional requirements and generate targeted validation suites.

• Intelligent Data & Schematic Extraction: Develop automated parsers and AI-driven workflows to extract tester-facing parameters and harness data from electrical schematics into structured formats, minimizing manual engineering effort.

• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Partner with feature owners, systems engineers, and software validation teams to identify manual test bottlenecks, verify tool outputs, and integrate reusable Python modules into lab workflows.

• Virtualization & Embedded Prototyping: Support bench-level bring-up, rapid prototyping with dSPACE and diagnostic/bus monitoring over CAN.

You’ll have…

• Bachelor’s degree in Robotics Engineering, Mechatronics, Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, or a related field.

• Simulation & HIL Toolchains: Hands-on experience with dSPACE toolchains (ModelDesk, ControlDesk APIs) or vehicle simulation platforms (IPG CarMaker, MATLAB/Simulink).

• Programming & Automation: Strong proficiency in Python for test automation, API integration, and internal tool development (including libraries/frameworks such as Streamlit, REST APIs).

• Vehicle Networks & Embedded Systems: Strong understanding of automotive communication protocols (CAN bus), embedded microcontrollers, and ability to interpret complex electrical schematics and wiring diagrams.

• Test Management & Traceability: Experience with requirements and test lifecycle management tools (Jama, TestRail, Jira) and test-case structuring (including BDD/Gherkin syntax).

• Problem Solving & Debugging: Proven ability to troubleshoot hardware/software bench interactions, validate signal integrity, and perform root-cause analysis on automated test scripts.

Even better, you may have…

• Master’s degree in Robotics Engineering, Mechatronics, or a related engineering discipline (completed or in progress).

• Applied AI & Computer Vision: Familiarity integrating AI/LLM-assisted workflows, NLP pipelines, or computer vision frameworks (PyTorch, OpenCV, YOLO) into engineering productivity tools.

• Robotics & Simulation Frameworks: Experience with ROS2, RViz, forward/inverse kinematics, or robotic automation systems.

• Additional Software Skills: Proficiency in C++, MATLAB scripting, or Excel/VBA automation.

• Industry Frameworks: Familiarity with automotive standards and agile practices (ISO 26262, ASPICE, SAFe/Scrum methodologies).

You may not check every box, or your experience may look a little different from what we've outlined, but if you think you can bring value to Ford Motor Company, we encourage you to apply!

Immediate medical, dental, vision and prescription drug coverage

Flexible family care days, paid parental leave, new parent ramp-up programs, subsidized back-up child care and more

Family building benefits including adoption and surrogacy expense reimbursement, fertility treatments, and more

Vehicle discount program for employees and family members and management leases

Tuition assistance

Established and active employee resource groups

Paid time off for individual and team community service

A generous schedule of paid holidays, including the week between Christmas and New Year’s Day

Paid time off and the option to purchase additional vacation time.

This position is a salary grade 6 and ranges from $85,400-$115,000.

Final determination of salary grade will be based on candidate's skills and experience, and base salary will be set within the applicable range according to job scope responsibility and competitive market value.

For more information on salary and benefits, https://fordcareers.co/GSR

Visa sponsorship is not available for this position.

Candidates for positions with Ford Motor Company must be legally authorized to work in the United States. Verification of employment eligibility will be required at the time of hire.

We are an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, age, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability status or protected veteran status. In the United States, if you need a reasonable accommodation for the online application process due to a disability, please call 1-888-336-0660.

This position is hybrid with a requirement to be onsite four or more days per week.

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